You may be diagnosed with root resorption after starting orthodontic treatment or experience a dental accident. Your dentist may recommend an endodontic treatment or extraction. Most of the time, root resorption is a condition that is well managed if it is diagnosed early.
What is Root Resorption?
Root resorption is a progressive loss of the tooth’s outer or inner layer by a particular type of cells. The phenomenon is where the body breaks down tissues surrounding the tooth and absorbs them. The resorption can be due to the tooth’s physical injury or the physiological shedding of baby teeth. Root resorption is two types:
- Internal Resorption: is asymptomatic and is usually detected by radiography during routine dental checkups. It starts at the inner surfaces of the tooth’s root, primarily internal dentin. Internal resorption is caused by traumatic injuries or infections like chronic pulpal inflammation. In most cases, it is treated by endodontic treatment.
- External Resorption: starts at the root’s outer surface, which connects the jawbone. External resorption is caused when applying heavy, continuous, and intrusive forces during orthodontic treatment.
What are the Symptoms of Root Resorption?
- Symptomatic (toothache) or asymptomatic (no pain)
- Swollen and redness on gums
- Loosening of the teeth
- Pink or darker spots on tooth internal tissue
- Teeth shifting, makes irregular spaces between them
- Discoloration of the tooth.
Treatment of Root Resorption
It varies depending on the causes and severity of the root resorption. Early diagnosis, removal of the cause, and proper treatment of the resorbed root are important factors for successful treatment outcomes.
- Root canal treatment: your dentist cleans the tooth’s inner cavities and root channels and helps preserve tooth roots left from the resorption process. Bioceramic-based endodontic sealers are used. The biocompatibility quality and easy handling of the bio-dentine make them an excellent restorative material. Root canal material gutta-percha is then administered by injection or condensation techniques to fill the pulp space of the tooth.
- MTA, glass ionomer cement, super EBA, zinc oxide eugenol, and zinc acetate cement are some materials dentists use to treat internal root resorption. MTA is widely used due to its biocompatibility and sealing ability.
- Dental crowns: after endodontic treatment, the tooth’s crown becomes brittle. Covering the treated tooth with a crown is essential to saving the remaining tooth structure.
- Extraction
Expert Root Resorption Treatment
Our endodontic team has extensive experience treating root resorption. If you have been diagnosed by your general dentist with this condition, schedule an appointment with one of our highly skilled endodontists in Beavercreek or West Chester. We will work hard to save your tooth and free you from the discomfort that you are experiencing.
